Transcript
Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer User’s Guide
Table of Contents 3 SAFETY WARNINGS 4 WARRANTY 5 SPECIFICATIONS 6 PRINTER OVERVIEW 7 UNBOXING 9 FILAMENT INSTALLATION 10 PRINT BED INSTALLATION 11 PRINT BED CALIBRATION AND STARTING A PRINT 12 BED LEVELING GUIDE 13 TRIFECTA™ SOFTWARE INSTALLATION 14 IMPORTING AND PRINTING A MODEL 15 SLICING SETTINGS 17 PAUSE POINT 18 MODEL ROTATION 20 MODEL SCALING 22 SLICING SETTINGS EXPLAINED 25 MEASURING FILAMENT DIAMETER 26 UPDATING PRINTER FIRMWARE 28 TROUBLESHOOTING 31 PRINTER CARE MAINTENANCE 35 HOTEND REPLACEMENT 44 GLOSSARY
Safety Warnings
FRAGILE
The Trifecta™ 800 contains delicate electronic components and sensors. Handle with care. The Trifecta™ 800 is not user serviceable.
HOT SURFACE
The Trifecta™ 800 hotend heats up to high temperatures during operation. Allow the hotend to properly cool down before reaching in your hand.
MOVING PARTS
The Trifecta™ 800 contains multiple moving parts that can cause injuries. Do not reach inside the Trifecta™ 800 during operation.
VENTILATION
The Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer prints with molten plastic which emits a slight odor during operation. Setup the Trifecta™ 800 in a well-ventilated environment.
SHOCK
There is a risk of shock. Contact a certified technician to service your Trifecta™ 800 Printer. In case of emergency disconnect the power cable from the socket.
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Warranty STANDARD WARRANTY Varitronics, LLC warrants the equipment and accessories comprising the VariQuest® Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one (1) year from the date of customer purchase. Original serial number must appear on product. Removal of serial numbers will void this warranty and any equipment and accessories that have been altered or modified in any way and are not as originally purchased will void this warranty. Varitronics will at its option repair, replace or refund the purchase price of any accessories, supplies or equipment found to be defective under this warranty. THIS WARRANTY IS EXPRESSLY IN LIEU OF ALL OTHER WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. In the event of breach of this expressed warranty, or any other warranty, whether expressed or implied, Varitronics liability shall be limited to the remedy provided by the preceding paragraph. IN NO EVENT WILL VARITRONICS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, NOR WILL VARITRONICS EVER BE LIABLE FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY, WHETHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF THE MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS, IN AN AMOUNT GREATER THAN THE PURCHASE PRICE OF THE PRODUCTS DESCRIBED BY THIS EXPRESSED WARRANTY. No agent, distributor, salesperson, wholesaler or retail dealer has authority to bind Varitronics to any other affirmation, representation or warranty concerning these goods.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT For technical assistance, please contact your authorized VariQuest dealer or the VariQuest Technical Support team: • Email:
[email protected] • Phone: 1-800-328-0585
DISCLAIMER While every precaution has been taken in preparation of this document, Varitronics assumes no liability to any party for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions or by statements resulting from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Varitronics further assumes no liability arising out of the application or use of any product or system described, herein; nor any liability for incidental or consequential damages arising from the use of this document. Varitronics disclaims all warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Varitronics reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any product or system herein to improve reliability, function, or design.
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Specifications Trifecta ™ 800 3D Printer Physical Dimensions Weight
37 x 39 x 43.6 cm (14.6 x 15.4 x 17.2 in) 10 kg (22.0 lb)
Printing Build Volume Filament Diameter Layer Resolution Material Nozzle Diameter Technology
22 x 16.5 x 22 cm (8.7 x 6.5 x 8.7 in) 1.75 mm 50-300 microns (0.05-0.3 mm) PLA 0.35mm Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF)
Software File Type Os Compatibility Software
STL, OBJ Windows, Mac Trifecta™ Software
Electrical Connectivity Consumption Electronics Power Input Power Output
USB (firmware), SD Card (printing) ~15W (idle), ~70W (operational) RAMPS 1.4, AT mega 2560, A4988 Stepper Drivers, DRV8825 Stepper Drivers AC 110-220V, 50-60 Hz DC 12V, 15A
Mechanical Body Build Platform Linear Motion Motor
Aluminum composite Glass (adhesive material required) Linear bearings, bronze bushings 1.8° step angle, 1/16 micro-stepping
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Printer Overview Filament Guide Tube
Hotend
FRONT
Print Cooling Fan Print Bed
SD Card Reader
Control Dial
Control Menu
BACK Spool Holder
Power Socket Power Switch
USB Port PAGE 6
Unboxing Use a box cutter to trim along the taped edges and peel back the outer box flaps.
36.4 lbs
The Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer can be too heavy to lift out of the box by yourself. Ask for help to prevent injury or damages to the printer.
1 Open shipping box and remove the compartment lid.
Blue Tape
2
Power Cable
USB Cable
Hex Wrench
Glass Print Bed
Print Bed Clips x4
SD Card
Remove printer accessories from the compartment.
3
Remove foam bracket and take out the printer and filament.
5 Place the printer on a firm flat surface.
4 Remove the printer and filament from the box.
Make sure the printer is located near an accessible power outlet. Place the Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer and PLA Filament in a moisture-free and low dust environment. Store opened spools of filament in a sealed bag with a desiccant packet. PAGE 7
Unboxing 6
Remove the two gantry clips securing the extruder by pushing the tabs on each end of the clips.
2x Store the removed clips and reuse when transporting the printer for shipping.
Powering On 1 Make sure the power switch on the printer is in the Off position ( O ). 2 Insert the female end into the power socket located on the back of the printer. 3 Insert the male end of the power cord into an electrical socket. 4 Turn on the printer by flipping the power switch to the On position ( I ).
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Filament Installation Extend the filament guide tube 1 from the retracted position.
Remove the filament spool from 2 the packaging and place it on the spool holder.
Take the end of the filament 3 from the spool and insert it into the guide tube.
Make sure the spool will spin clockwise as the filament feeds into the guide tube.
4
Thread the filament through the guide tube. Push the tensioner button down to insert the filament through the drive gear and into the hotend.
5
Once the filament is inserted all the way down into the hotend, insert the guide tube into the top of the extruder cap.
Cut the tip of the filament at an angle if you are having trouble feeding the filament into the hotend.
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Print Bed Installation
1
Place the glass print surface onto the bed with the blue painter’s tape side facing upward. The tape will act as an adhesion material for the plastic.
2
With the clips provided in the kit, slide each clip on to pinch the bed platform and glass print surface together. Attach the clips onto the bed as shown.
Replace any worn or damaged blue painter’s tape as needed to ensure that your prints stick properly during the printing process.
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Print Bed Calibration
MAIN MENU
Control
WIZARD Print
Temp
Wizard
Status
Bed Level
New Filament
Exit
From the main menu, turn the dial to scroll to Wizard. 1 Push the dial in to select.
2
Select the Bed Level option and follow the on-screen instructions to level the print bed.
Starting a Print
MAIN
MAIN MENU
Control
Print
Temp
Wizard
Status
Insert your SD card into the slot to the left of the 1 screen. Use the dial to select Print on the main menu.
TEST_PRINT.G VASE.G BRACELET.G YOUR_PRINT.G
Scroll down to the file you want to print and push the 2 dial in to start the print.
Whenever you begin a print, always check that the first layer of the print is properly stuck onto the blue painter’s tape. A properly leveled bed should have the extruded filament a bit squished and shouldn’t pop off the bed easily. While the printer is performing the skirt nozzle purge, observe the deposited filament and make micro-adjustments with the thumbscrews if necessary.
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Bed Leveling Guide To ensure that your prints always stick to the glass build plate, the build surface must be properly leveled so that the nozzle is at an equal set distance across the print surface. Use the Bed Leveling Wizard and follow the on-screen instructions to assist you in leveling the print bed.
Initialize the Bed Leveling Wizard from the LCD menu on your Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer and follow the on-screen instructions to begin bed leveling. To level your bed, the wizard will move the extruder to three points on the print bed and ask you to adjust the thumb screws to make the distance between the nozzle tip and print bed equal across the print surface.
Turning Clockwise
Turning Counter-Clockwise
This loosens the spring tension and brings the print surface closer to the nozzle.
This tightens the spring tension and brings the print surface further away from the nozzle.
Bed Leveling Tip! The on-screen instructions will guide you through leveling your bed at three different points. For proper calibration, slide a piece of construction paper under the hotend at each of the three points. Tighten/loosen the leveling screws to ensure a slight drag on the construction paper. Turn the screws clockwise to raise the bed and counterclockwise to lower the bed.
Whenever you begin a print, always check that the first layer of the print is properly stuck onto the blue painter’s tape. A properly leveled bed should have the extruded filament a bit squished and shouldn’t pop off the bed easily. While the printer is performing the skirt nozzle purge, observe the deposited filament and make micro-adjustments with the thumbscrew if necessary.
TOO CLOSE
LEVELED
TOO FAR
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Trifecta™ Software Installation The VariQuest® Trifecta™ Software comes pre-installed on the VariQuest Design Center. You can also install on your PC or multiple PCs by downloading the software from the VariQuest Resource Center at: https://resources.variquest.com Supported OS: Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.6.8 or higher
Upon launching the VariQuest® Trifecta™ Software for the first time, you will be greeted with a quick software tour. Use the tour to familiarize yourself with the software’s interface and hotkeys to speed up your workflow. You can revisit the tutorial anytime by selecting “Help” from the window tool bar and then choosing “First Run Tour”.
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Importing and Printing a Model There are two ways to import a file into the Trifecta Software: A) Import a file directly from Trifecta Software. B) Launch Trifecta module from the main screen of the VariQuest Software. 1) Open VariQuest Design Center Software 5.0 2) Select Trifecta module 3) Browse to file location 4) Select file 5) The file will launch the Trifecta Software and place object on the bed. Importing a model within Trifecta™ Software 1
2
3
To import a 3D model, click on the Import icon. In the dialogue box that appears, navigate to the directory where the model is saved, select the model and Open. Accepted mesh file formats: .STL , .OBJ Pre-sliced: .GCODE Multiple files can be imported in at the same time to tray up multiple models on one print tray.
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Slicing Settings
Slice settings are located in the top bar. Selecting a model will enable rotation rings and scaling adjustors.
A
Import
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Resolution
Infill
Wall
Support
Filament
Speed
Temp
Med: 200
18%
2
Off
1.75 mm
70 mm/s
220ºC
I
Slice
A - Import STL or OBJ file. B - Change resolution settings. Choose from 300, 200, 100, and 50 micron. Default set to Medium - 200. C - Change Infill percentage. Adjust object density, default set to 18% D - Change Wall amount. Adjust the wall amount or thickness on your model. Default is set at 2. E - Filament Diameter. Input the diameter of your filament. Use of a digital caliper is recommended. F - Toggle switches for activating printed Support structure. G - Change the speed of the printer. Recommended amount: 60-70 mm/s. H - Temperature settings for the Hotend. Recommended hotend temp - 220-225C° . I - Slice (export) a file into GCODE.
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Slicing Settings
To export the model, press the Slice button on the top tool bar. This will begin the export process which generally takes a few minutes depending on the size of the model.
Once slicing is completed, the bottom bar will notify you of the print time, filament usage in weight, layer preview, and a dialogue box to export the print onto a SD card.
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Pause Point
The dialogue box also contain a Pause Point feature that allow you to insert pauses into the printing process. Once printing has reached the specified point, the extruder will stop and move to the home position until futher instruction. This feature is useful for changing the filament at a specific point for swapping colors.
A
B
C
D A - Model layer preview slider. B - Add pause point at current layer. C - Remove all pause points. D - Pause point indicator.
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Model Rotation
Sometimes when you import a model it may not be facing the right way, with the rotate tool, you can adjust the rotational angle on each individual axis. In the first image, you can see that the gem is lying on its side. Since we want to print it with the flat base as the bottom, we'll use the Rotate Tool to correct this. Select the model to enable the rotational tool.
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Model Rotation
Once the Rotate tool is activated, three rotational rings will envelope the 3D model, each individual ring will allow you to control one of the three rotational axis (X,Y,Z). In this example, we rotated the green axis ring to bring the model upright. To rotate, click on the axis you wish to wish to rotate on, hold down your left mouse button and drag until you are satisfied with the angle. You can also hold down your Shift key to rotate in 45 degree increments.
Now the the model is upright with the flat face anchors to the surface. You can always click on the Reset button to reset the orientation back to the model’s imported state. PAGE 19
Model Scaling
When importing in an oversized model that exceeds the printer’s print volume, the model will be shaded in gray. We can utilize the Scale Tool to adjust model sizes bigger or smaller.
Click on the model to display the scaling control. Click on the scaling nodes (square boxes) and drag your mouse left or right until the model is at your desired size.
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Model Scaling
A
B
C
A Percentage Control Scale the model using % scaling. Regardless of the original measurement, the model is set to 100% scale when you first import it. Double the original size by typing in 200% or shrink the original size by half when you change the number to 50%.
B Measurement Control Scale the model using precise measurement input (in mm). Select either the Width, Depth, or Height measurement control and change the numbers by typing your new measurements in.
C Reset Scaling Made a mistake? No worries. Clicking on the Reset button will reset any transformation applied to the model and resize it to its original scale.
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Slicing Settings Explained Resolution Change resolution settings. Choose from 300, 200, 100, and 50 micron. Default set to Medium - 200 (0.2mm per layer). Printing at a lower resolution (300 micron) will allow for a faster print, while printing at higher resolutions (50 micron) will take the longest, but allow for the best finish.
Infill The infill setting adjusts the model’s density, default is set to 18%.
From left to right: 0% Infill, 18% Infill, 30% Infill
Filament Input the diameter of your filament. Use of a digital caliper is recommended. If you are using Trifecta PLA filament and do not have a caliper on hand, set to 1.75 mm.
Wall Changes the thickness of the wall that make up the outer surface of the model. Default is set at 2.
From left to right: 1 Wall, 2 Wall, 3 Wall. PAGE 22
Slicing Settings Explained Support Activate support when you have steep angles or overhanging structures on your model; there are two modes of support: Ext Mode (Builds support on the exterior of the object): This mode is useful when you don’t want support structures in every nook and cranny of your model, and only on the exterior where it’s easier to remove. Full Mode (Builds support everywhere it needs): This mode of support will print structures everywhere it is needed, which is useful when you have several overhanging points at different areas of the print.
Support: FULL In this example, support setting is set to ALL. Thus, support structure is printed for both tiers of the overhanging roof.
Support: EXT In the final example, the support setting is turned to EXT mode. This means that although support structure is required for both levels of the overhanging roof, only the bottom one will have supports printed for it. In this mode, the base of the support structures will never be in contact with the printed model.
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Slicing Settings Explained Speed This sets the printing speed of the printer. Recommended speed range is 60-70 mm/s for best printing quality.
Temperature This sets the temperature to which the hotend heats up to. For Trifecta 1.75 PLA filament, set the hotend temperature to 215-220 degrees Celsius.
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Measuring the Filament Diameter Measuring the filament diameter with a digital caliper and inputting that information into Trifecta Software will allow you to achieve the best quality from your prints. Follow the steps below to measure your filament. 1. Make sure to zero your caliper in its closed position before you start. Take your caliper to a section of the filament and lightly pinch the filament and take a reading. In this case, the filament diameter is 1.73 mm.
2. Move down on the filament to take a second reading. Here we have 1.74 mm.
3. Finally, move to a new section on the filament 4. With the readings you have gathered, find and take a third reading. Here we have 1.72 mm. the average by adding the three numbers and dividing by three. (1.73 + 1.74 + 1.72) / 3 = 1.73mm The final number that you end up with will be the number you want to set in Trifecta Software.
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Updating Printer Firmware From time to time, you will want to download the firmware updates for your Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer. These updates will aim to address overall printer performance and specific software usability issues. Follow the steps below to update your printer firmware.
1. Take the USB wire included with your printer and connect the USB B end to the back of the printer. Your printer does not need to be turned on to perform a firmware update.
2. Connect the other end into a USB slot on your computer.
3. Launch the Trifecta Software. From the top menu bar, select Expert > Install custom firmware
4. Select the firmware file you have downloaded for your printer.
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Updating Printer Firmware 5. Allow the firmware to upload to the printer. Do not disconnect the cable at this time.
6. All done! Click Ok to close the window and you can now disconnect the USB cable from the printer and computer.
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Troubleshooting Printing Issues ISSUE
SOLUTION
Cannot insert filament into the Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer extruder.
Remove the filament, trim off the tip off the filament with a pair of scissors and try loading the filament again. With one hand, grab the end of the filament and insert it into the extruder. Using a pinching motion with your other hand, grab the extruder and press down on the filament tensioning button to allow the filament to feed through the drive gear. The filament should thread through and feed into the hotend.
Cannot remove filament from the Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer extruder.
Use the change filament wizard found on the LCD control. Allow the printer to heat up, extrude some filament and retract the filament out of the extruder. Alternatively, manually toggle the hotend preheat through the LCD menu. Once the hotend has heated up, manually push the filament down to extrude the filament and then pull the filament out.
No molten filament is coming out from the extruder nozzle.
Retract and insert the filament again. Make sure the filament is fully inserted into the hotend. Also make sure the filament spool is free of tangles and knots that may prevent the extruder from feeding.
There are skip lines / missing gaps along the layer of the print.
The drive gear teeth may be dirty from use over time. Remove drive gear and clean with a brush. Re-position the drive gear on the extruder motor so it aligns correctly with the filament channel and is tightened. Ensure that the software extrusion temperature is above 215 degree Celsius. Lower than normal extrusion will cause additional back pressure to the hotend, leaving the print surface with gaps. Ensure that printing speed setting on the Trifecta Software does not exceed the rate in which the filament can be melted. Printing at speed between 100-120mm/s is considered high and may affect the quality of large surface on prints.
Print is not sticking onto the print surface; peels off during printing.
Build platform needs to be re-leveled. Make sure that the first layer of the print adheres to the print surface slightly flat and consistent. This will prevent the print object from peeling off mid print. Use isopropyl alcohol to clean off dirt and oil off the blue tape. Replace section of the tape if it’s damaged. Ensure that the tape is applied wrinkle free and edge-to-edge to prevent a uneven surface. Turn on ‘Brim’ in the slicing software to add a printed border on the base of your models. This is especially helpful for prints that have multiple small isolated sections on the base layer.
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Troubleshooting Printer Issues ISSUE
SOLUTION
Prints do not stick to the bed despite using the bed-leveling wizard.
The bed-leveling wizard will serve as a good reference point to which to level your bed. Depending on the accuracy of the calibration, you may need to make micro adjustments once the printer begins a print. As the printer begins a print and extrudes the outer skirt of the model, check to see if the skirt is sticking firmly onto the blue tape. If the filament seems bead-like, adjust the thumbscrew closest to the affected area cclockwise to bring the distance of the print surface closer to the nozzle.
Hard to remove the print from the print surface.
For large prints, remove the bed clips securing the glass build surface and place it down on the flat surface. Use a thin metal palette knife and find a corner edge of the print to wedge the knife under. Slowly repeat this process around accessible areas on the model. Once the knife is mostly under the printed object, twist the knife and use the leverage to pop the print object off the build surface.
X/Y/Z axis homes abruptly during printer or printing stops before completion.
The file being printed may be improperly combined or manifolded within the modeling software. Correct within source software or use a model repair software. Check for structural defects within the slicing software by using the layer viewer after slicing. Corrupted SD card. Reformat the SD card to FAT format and re-save the GCode file onto the SD card.
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Troubleshooting Software Issues ISSUE
SOLUTION
Printer driver not recognized when connected to the computer.
Install the Trifecta™ slicing software to obtain the required drivers for the printer connection. To install the drivers manually, navigate the Trifecta™ slicing software directory: C:/Program Files/VariQuest/Trifecta Software/drivers/ Run dpinst32 or dpinst64 depending on if the computer is running a 32bit or 64bit OS.
Imported a model into the Trifecta™ slicing software but cannot slice and export.
Scale any oversized model within the Trifecta™ slicing software down to not exceed the build volume. Oversized models will be shaded in grey.
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Printer Care and Maintenance Filament Care
INSTALLING THE SPOOL: Rest the spool on the spool holder on the back of the printer. Make sure the spool will spin clockwise as the filament feeds into the guide tube.
WHEN NOT IN USE: Retract the filament and coil back onto the spool. Thread the loose end through any of the holes to prevent the filament from tangling.
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Printer Care and Maintenance Gantry Linear Bearing + Rod Lubrication BEFORE YOU BEGIN: Only use machining oil on the X+Y axis smooth rods and linear bearings. Grease based lubricant can seize and damage linear bearings.
Apply a single drop on each of the smooth rods and manually move the carriage around so the machining oil can seep into the linear bearings and bushings.
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Printer Care and Maintenance Screw Rod Lubrication
APPLYING GREASE: 1. Grasp both sides of the build platform and push it up or downward to expose as much of the threaded rod as possible. 2. Clean off the rod by wiping off excess grim and dirt with a cloth. 3. Apply PTFE-based grease onto the threaded rod with a lint-free rag or your finger. Even out the application and make sure to get the grease into the threads. PTFE-based grease can obtained at most hardware stores or online retailers.
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Printer Care and Maintenance Drive Gear Cleaning Overtime, filament bits may accumulate in the drive gear’s teeth, causing the gear to lose grip on the filament. In this situation, we will need to remove the drive gear from the extruder and clean off the filament debris.
With a 1.75mm hex key, insert it from the top of the extruder cap and rotate the motor shaft to line up the set screw with the hex key. Rotate counter-clockwise to loosen the set screw and pull out the drive gear from the motor shaft. With a razor or a brush, remove any filament debris from the drive gear teeth, taking care not to damage any of the teeth. Once the gear is cleaned, slide it back onto the motor shaft and line up the groove with the bearing. Make sure to also tighten the set screws down on the flat edge of the motor shaft.
Top Down View
BEARING DRIVE GEAR
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Hotend Replacement Before You Begin Hotend swaps are performed to replace a hotend that is fully/partially jammed. A partially jammed hotend will affect the print quality and leave striations on the print surface. Go through the checklist below to see if there may be other issues before resorting to a hotend swap. DRIVE GEAR: Ensure the drive gear’s filament channel is clean and free of filament shavings (1). The drive gear should also be aligned with the tensioning bearing (2) and properly tightened down on the flat edge of the motor shaft. MANUAL EXTRUSION: Detach the filament guide tube to reveal a portion of the filament. Heat up the hotend and manually feed the filament into the extruder. If the molten filament emerges from the tip of the nozzle and quickly curls upward (3), the hotend may be partially jammed.
1 2
3
SLICING SETTINGS: High speed or resolution settings may over-work the extruder motor and heater cartridge causing the printed surface to have missing gaps and other imperfections. A. Resolution - Lower resolution (300 micron) requires a higher filament flow rate. Keep printing temperature above 220 degrees Celsius and print speed under 80mm/s. B. Speed - Under default resolution, the recommended printing speed is between 60mm/s - 80mm/s. C. Temperature - Temperature defaults at 220 degrees Celsius, and should not exceed 230 degrees Celsius.
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Hotend Replacement
MAKE SURE TO REMOVE ANY FILAMENT IN THE HOTEND AND ALLOW THE HOTEND TO COOL DOWN BEFORE PERFORMING THE SWAP.
1 Unscrew the two screws from the top of the carriage that secures the hotend mount.
2 Loosen the three screws from the left side of the carriage that secures the hotend blower fan. The screws can remain attached to the blower fan, we just need access to remove the outer fan cap.
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Hotend Replacement
3 Move the right print bed cooling fan to give enough clearance to the hotend. Pull down on the hotend and retract the unit out of the seating.
4 With the hotend still attached to the thermistor and heater cartridge wire, swing the hotend around the backside of the cooling fan panel to expose the wires.
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Hotend Replacement
5 Using the 1.75mm hex key, loosen the heater cartridge set screw located on the back of the hotend heater block.
6 With the setscrew loosened, remove the heater cartridge from the hotend.
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Hotend Replacement
7 Remove the thermistor from the heater block by unscrewing the bronze setscrew by hand.
8 Take the new hotend unit and screw the thermistor back into the heater block by hand. Avoid screwing in the thermistor setscrew with tools to prevent causing damage to the thermistor bulb.
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Hotend Replacement
9 Insert the heater cartridge back into the right side of the heater block. Orientate the heater cartridge wires so they point toward the back of the extruder.
10 Use the 1.75mm hex key to tighten the setscrew that secure the heater cartridge in place.
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Hotend Replacement
11 Carefully thread the cooling fan panel in between the heater cartridge and thermistor wire.
12 Once the components are in place, the thermistor wires should go around the back of the hotend heater block, and both wires from the cartridge and thermistor will come under and out from the cooling fan mount.
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Hotend Replacement
13 Insert the hotend mount back into the carriage.
14 Insert both hotend mount screws in. You will need to push from the bottom of the hotend mount to align the mounting holes.
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Hotend Replacement
15 Tighten both mounting screws.
16 Screw all three blower fan mounting screws back into the panel. Ensure the wiring is routed as shown in the picture and obstruction free during printing.
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Glossary BLUE TAPE: Blue painter’s tape that acts as an adhesion layer for models to be printed on. Find blue tape at your local hardware store.
FILAMENT GUIDE TUBE: A plastic tube that acts as a channel for the PLA filament to go from the spool into the top of the extruder.
Recommended: ScotchBlue™ Painter's Tape Original Multi-Use 2090
BRIM: A printed plate attached to the base layer of the model often used to stabilize small parts or isolated sections of a model.
FILAMENT SPOOL HOLDER: Hinge located on the back of the printer to load a spool of PLA filament.
BUILD PLATE: The flat sheet of glass that the blue tape is applied to. This is the surface where the printer prints on.
FIRMWARE: Control software for the printer. New firmware version can be upload via the USB connection cable.
BUILD PLATFORM: Support platform for the build plate. The plate includes thumb screws for adjusting the bed level.
GANTRY: Gantry assembly (X and Y axis) is responsible for the carriage movement.
CONTROL DIAL: Rotary + push dial located to the right of the LCD screen. Rotate the dial to scroll through options and push down on the dial to make a selection.
.GCODE / .G: The format of print files for your Trifecta™ 800 3D Printer. Print file contains gantry movement and extruder instructions .
CONTROL MENU: Main selection menu from the LCD screen. Options include: print, temperature settings, printer control, operation wizard, and printer status.
HEATER BLOCK: Metal block that gets heated by the heater cartridge to heat the hotend nozzle. The block is insulated by ceramic tape for temperature stability.
DRIVE GEAR: A teethed gear attached to the extruder motor shaft responsible for feeding the filament into the hotend.
HEATER CARTRIDGE: A industrial heating element used to heat up the heater block in order to melt filament passing through the melt zone.
ENDSTOP: Mechanical switch for the home position of the carriage on three axis.
HOTEND: Active part of the printer that melts the filament. Allows a strand of molten plastic to exit from the nozzle tip (0.34mm).
EXTRUDER CARRIAGE: The extruder carriage houses the extruder assembly component and is attached to the X and Y axis for movement.
PLA FILAMENT: Biodegradable polymer that can be produced from lactic acid. PLA is harder than ABS, but melts at a lower temperature (around 180°C to 220°C).
EXTRUDER NOZZLE: Top of the hotend with a 0.34mm orifice to extruder molten filament onto the print bed.
RESOLUTION: Resolution settings within the slicing software that determine the layer height for each print. Ranges from 50-300 Micron.
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Glossary SD CARD READER: Located on the front panel of the printer. Load your sliced model files onto the supplied SD card and insert it into the reader slot. Select a file from the LCD menu to start a print. SLICING: The process of exporting your 3D models into a 3D print ready file for your printer. Print ready files will be denoted with the extension .G / .GCODE. .STL: A widely used file format for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD). STL is support by many 3D model creation softwares. SUPPORT MATERIAL: Software generated printed support structures that hold up any sections of a print that will not stand alone.
THERMISTOR: Temperature dependent resistor used to monitor temperature readings of the hotend.
USB CABLE: The printer comes with a USB A to B cable that connects the printer to the computer for firmware updates.
X-AXIS: Axis responsible for the left to right movement in the gantry.
Y-AXIS: Axis responsible for the front to back movement in the gantry. Z-AXIS: Axis responsible for the up and down movement of the build plate.
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT For technical assistance, please contact your authorized VariQuest dealer or the VariQuest Technical Support team: • Email:
[email protected] • Phone: 1-800-328-0585
© 2016 Varitronics®, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
R2900205 rev B 9/2016
